Much of the country looks to be in for settled weather during the working week, with scorching temperatures on the way for many eastern and central areas.

But the story could be different by Christmas, with MetService predicting a dismal change next weekend, particularly affecting most of the North Island.

On Monday, isolated showers are possible for Northland to Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and the east of the North Island, the MetService says.

The rest of the country is expected to have a fine Monday, or to become fine in the morning.

Auckland is forecast to get to 24C, and to have isolated showers in the afternoon, with areas of low cloud from evening.

Occasional rain is forecast to clear early in Wellington on Monday, while southerlies keep the temperature to 19C.

After climbing to around 28C on Sunday, Christchurch is expected to get no higher than 19C on Monday.

Some early patchy drizzle was possible, but should clear to fine in the morning, the MetService says.

High temperatures are predicted for some eastern and central areas during the week.

Places expected to get above 30C on at least one day, and in many cases two days, or even three, included Alexandra, Christchurch, Twizel and Blenheim, while Hastings and Gisborne were forecast to get to 29C.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday in the south, with both Invercargill and Dunedin forecast to get to 27C that day, while Mosgiel – just inland from Dunedin – was predicted to reach 29C.

MetService is forecasting Taumarunui to reach highs of 26C to 28C on six consecutive days.

But if the forecast stays more or less as it is now, the rain will arrive for much of the North Island during the weekend, and the weather will be fairly mediocre elsewhere, even if not as wet.

At least two days of rain, including Christmas Day, is forecast for many places, including Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Whitianga, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Taupō, Masterton and Invercargill.

Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay has the best chances of a dry Christmas Day.

But it’s still a week until Christmas, and the forecast could change several times before then.

-Michael Daly/Stuff.